The probability of tropical cyclones directly affecting Macau this week remains low, but an active southwest monsoon and a low-pressure trough is expected to bring more frequent thunderstorms from today to Thursday, according to a statement by the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) yesterday.
The statement said that a low-pressure area within the South China Sea developed into two tropical cyclones last week – “Narra”, which was lingering near the Beibu Gulf close to China’s Hainan Province, and “Gaenari”, which formed near Japan’s Ryukyu Islands.
Due to weak steering currents and interactions between tropical systems within the broad low-pressure trough, their development and movement remained uncertain, the statement said. Forecasts indicate that Narra will continue moving slowly near the Beibu Gulf before heading inland, while Gaenari is expected to weaken and dissipate near the Taiwan Strait, the statement noted.
Although both systems were forecast to have a low chance of directly affecting Macau, the broad low-pressure trough combined with an active southwest monsoon will bring abundant moisture to the coast of southern China, the statement said.
The local observatory forecast that Macau will experience a significant increase in thunderstorms from today to Thursday, with heavier rainfall possible over the weekend, the statement added. Residents are advised to take an umbrella when going outdoors and pay attention to the latest weather updates, according to the statement.
The observatory reminded the public that summer convective weather can change rapidly, with rain clouds developing quickly. Residents are encouraged to use the “Macau Weather” mobile app (Trial Version) or follow the official WeChat account “Macau Weather” for the latest forecasts, weather information and warning signals.
This infographic provided by the local observatory (SMG) yesterday shows satellite images and forecast charts detailing the positions and movements of tropical cyclones “Narra” and “Gaenari”, alongside surface pressure and precipitation forecasts. The translation from Chinese was arranged by the Post.
